AG Healey Celebrates Rehab Of Framingham's Sarah Clayes House

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The historic Sarah Clayes house in Framingham had a full facelift after sitting abandoned for decades. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey joined Mayor Yvonne Spicer and Framingham's legislature and officials on Thursday to celebrate the rehabilitation of the iconic home.

The property belonged to Sarah Clayes, a woman who escaped persecution in Salem and accusations of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials and fled to Framingham. Two of Clayes' sisters were accused of witchcraft and hanged. Clayes was set to follow their fate but escaped prison with the help of her husband, Peter Clayes. Together they brought their family to Framingham and helped settle the town in the late 17th century.

The home that sits on 657 Salem End Road is likely, not the original structure the Clayes built upon arriving to the area, but it may be on the original foundation.

The home was restored thanks to funding from private investors Annie and Edward Murphy and Elizabeth Owens and Robert Owens and action from local preservationists including the Sarah Clayes House Trust and the Attorney General's Abandoned Housing Initiative. The trust is led by Framingham History Center director Annie Murphy and others to save the structure. The trust worked with the AG's office to find the mortgage holder and convince the bank to donate the property to be preserved.

Many of the conversations between the AG's office and the Sarah Clayes Trust were done through the late state Rep. Chris Walsh, Healey said. She gave praise to the Abandoned Housing Initiative which helps municipalities repair abandoned and "eyesore" properties in an effort to boost property values and city appeal. The initiative is in 140 municipalities in the state.

Healey tweeted how this home stood out from other's in the Abandoned Housing Initiative. "This wasn’t just any distressed home – this is a home with a story – a testament to a woman who overcame a dark chapter in our history to make a better life for herself and her family," she wrote.

A press conference was held inside of the home and Mayor Spicer expressed gratitude to the preservationists who made the rehab possible, "I am so thrilled that a piece of Framingham's rich history has been preserved," she said. Healey called the project and the home, "A testament to what partnership can look like between local and state government and private development," Healey said.